In preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Portugal manager Fernando Santos admitted that he was worried about Cristiano Ronaldo’s status at Manchester United.
Following his off-field antics against Tottenham Hotspur last month, the attacker was dropped by manager Erik ten Hag from the first squad. Three days after the encounter against Spurs, the team that played Chelsea at Stamford Bridge did not include him because he was briefly required to practice with the club’s under-21 team.
Since then, the international player from Portugal has been promoted to the first team and has started four straight games. Prior to the FIFA World Cup in 2022, this ought to assist him to gain some momentum.
Santos said that he was concerned about Ronaldo’s dismissal from Manchester United’s first squad, particularly with the FIFA World Cup about to begin on November 20. Regarding the Portuguese attacker’s potential participation in the prestigious tournament in Qatar, he said in an interview with the newspaper O Jogo:
“There was a moment with Cristiano when I was worried, when you heard that he weren’t going to train with the team, that’s what. If I was training alone, it would be very difficult.”
🙃 Cristiano Ronaldo has committed more fouls (7) than he has had shots on target (6) in the Premier League this season pic.twitter.com/kQbaQ6fLyw
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) November 6, 2022
The 37-year-old, long past his prime former Real Madrid attacker declined to replace another player during Manchester United’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham. A few minutes before the end of the game, he then made his way into the Old Trafford tunnel.
The second such incident since preseason, according to reports that surfaced after the game, involved Ronaldo completely leaving the stadium. Earlier this year, he also left Old Trafford before the completion of United’s pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano.
After being benched for Manchester United’s trip to Chelsea, Ronaldo issued a statement. He sent a post to Instagram with the caption:
“As I’ve always done throughout my career, I try to live and play respectfully towards my colleagues, my adversaries and my coaches. That hasn’t changed. I haven’t changed.
“I’m the same person and the same professional that I’ve been for the last 20 years playing elite football, and respect has always played a very important role in my decision making process.
“I started very young, the older and most experienced players examples were always very important to me. Therefore, later on, I’ve always tried to set the example myself for the youngsters that grew in all the teams that I’ve represented.
“Unfortunately that’s not always possible and sometimes the heat of the moment get’s the best of us.
“Right now, I just feel that I have to keep working hard in Carrington, support my teammates and be ready for everything in any given game. Giving in to the pressure is not an option. It never was. This is Manchester United, and united we must stand. Soon we’ll be together again.”
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Ronaldo is expected to travel with Portugal’s World Cup team. Santos has not yet announced its final 26-man roster for the competition, which begins on November 24 with a matchup against Ghana.
